Pacificus of Verona (Italian: Pacifico di Verona) ( 776 – 23 November 844 AD) was a 9th-century Carolingian Italian religious leader, notable for his tenure as the archdeacon of Verona from 803 until his death in 844, as well as the historiographical debate over the validity of the many achievements ascribed to him.
During his time in Verona, Pacificus is said to have accomplished numerous feats, including composing or copying a large body of texts, founding or assisting in the establishment of several institutions in and around the city, and devising various inventions later attributed to him. His works were frequently cited and idealized by inhabitants of Verona throughout history, and his charters were often used as evidence in disputes concerning the authority of the city’s bishops and archdeacons. He was reportedly well educated in a wide range of subjects and has been regarded by some as an example of the Carolingian Uomo Universale. A street in Verona is named after him.
Sources Not much can be determined about Pacificus from contemporary documents, as few survive from his time. His existence is proved by at least one private document bearing his autograph signature from 809,Pacificus, Fondo Veneto, I, no. 6529. 13 May 809. Verona. Archivio Segreto Vaticano, cited in Cristina La Rocca, "A man for all seasons: Pacificus of Verona and the creation of a local Carolingian past," chap. 11 in The Uses of the Past in the Early Middle Ages, ed. Yitzhak Hen and Matthew Innes (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000). as well as possibly a second similar document from 814.Pacificus, III-4-3r. 20 June 814. Verona. Archivio Capitolare Veronese, cited in Cristina La Rocca, "A man for all seasons: Pacificus of Verona and the creation of a local Carolingian past," chap. 11 in The Uses of the Past in the Early Middle Ages, ed. Yitzhak Hen and Matthew Innes (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000). These documents relate to the properties held by the schola sacerdotum (a school for priests) he is credited with founding in Verona. There are several other charters or documents claimed to have been written or signed by Pacificus, but their authenticity is currently a matter of debate.Cristina La Rocca, "A man for all seasons: Pacificus of Verona and the creation of a local Carolingian past," chap. 11 in The Uses of the Past in the Early Middle Ages, ed. Yitzhak Hen and Matthew Innes (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000). In addition there are several marginalia believed to have been written by Pacificus on manuscripts from Church's Veronese archives, as well as numerous manuscripts attributed to him."Codices Latini Antiquiores: a paleographical guide to latin manuscripts prior to the ninth century," Italy: Perugia-Verona, Vol. 4, ed. Elias Avery Lowe (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1947), 472-516.
What other information available on his life comes from later sources, and there is some debate as to the reliability of the information they give us.Cristina La Rocca, Pacifico di Verona. Il Passato Carolingio Nella Costruzione Della Memoria Urbana, (Nella Sede Dell'Istituto, 1995), cited in Cristina La Rocca, "A man for all seasons: Pacificus of Verona and the creation of a local Carolingian past," chap. 11 in The Uses of the Past in the Early Middle Ages, ed. Yitzhak Hen and Matthew Innes (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000). These sources include two epitaphs in the Verona Cathedral which had long been thought contemporaneous to Pacificus, but which some now argue date from the cathedral's construction in the twelfth century, some 270 years after Pacificus' death.A. Bartoli, "Il complesso romanico," La cattedrale di Verona nelle vicende edilizie dal secolo VI al secolo XVI, ed. P. P. Brugnoli (Verona: 1987), 101-65, cited in Cristina La Rocca, "A man for all seasons: Pacificus of Verona and the creation of a local Carolingian past," chap. 11 in The Uses of the Past in the Early Middle Ages, ed. Yitzhak Hen and Matthew Innes (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000).Cristina La Rocca, "A man for all seasons: Pacificus of Verona and the creation of a local Carolingian past," chap. 11 in The Uses of the Past in the Early Middle Ages, ed. Yitzhak Hen and Matthew Innes (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000), 252-254.Cristina La Rocca, Pacifico di Verona. Il Passato Carolingio Nella Costruzione Della Memoria Urbana, (Nella Sede Dell'Istituto, 1995), cited in Cristina La Rocca, "A man for all seasons: Pacificus of Verona and the creation of a local Carolingian past," chap. 11 in The Uses of the Past in the Early Middle Ages, ed. Yitzhak Hen and Matthew Innes (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000). Other sources providing details from Pacificus' life include the fourteenth-century work Historiae Imperialis (Imperial History) by Giovanni de Matociis (commonly known as Giovanni Mansionario), and the 16th-century work Antiquitates Veronenses by the Augustinian monk Onuphrius Panvinius.
Life Early life and career Little is known about Pacificus' early life. He was supposedly descended from noble stock, and was educated at the Abbey of Reichenau,Maureen C Miller, The Formation of a Medieval Church: Ecclesiastical Change in Verona, 950-1150, (New York: Cornell University Press, 1993), 124. known for it clerical school which produced clerks for many Imperial and ducal chanceries during the Carolingian period. When he returned to Verona he took charge of the Veronese cathedral chapter's school and scriptorium.
One of the few known events from his early life, when Pacificus was a deacon in Verona. The earliest account of this event comes from Panvinius' Antiquates Veronenses. In 798 Charlemagne decided to rebuild the city walls to protect the city against the threat of the Avar Khaganate. The cost of rebuilding the walls led to disputes between the clerical and civic authorities of the city over the burden of payment. The citizens demanded that the clergy pay one third of the cost, while the clergy insisted that they only need pay one quarter, as was customary. Without proof to support either side, it was decided to subject a representative of both sides to an ordeal by cross, and Pacificus was chosen to represent the clergy. Both parties stood against a cross holding their arms out while the Passion according to Matthew was read aloud. Pacificus held his arms upright through the entire reading while his opponent lowered his, leading the judge to rule that God favored Pacificus' side. Pacificus' victory was considered proof of an established custom afterwards, such as when Lothair planned to restore the city walls, and the clergy of Verona only had to pay one quarter of the costs of restorations of the walls.Onuphrius Panvinius, Antiquitates Veronenses, (Patavii: 1648), cited in Cristina La Rocca, "A man for all seasons: Pacificus of Verona and the creation of a local Carolingian past," chap. 11 in The Uses of the Past in the Early Middle Ages, ed. Yitzhak Hen and Matthew Innes (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000)Maureen C Miller, The Formation of a Medieval Church: Ecclesiastical Change in Verona, 950-1150, (New York: Cornell University Press, 1993), 17.Cristina La Rocca, "A man for all seasons: Pacificus of Verona and the creation of a local Carolingian past," chap. 11 in The Uses of the Past in the Early Middle Ages, ed. Yitzhak Hen and Matthew Innes (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000), 262-264.
Archdeacon of Verona Pacificus was promoted to the position of archdeacon of Verona most likely in 803, thought issues have been raised with this date. After this, there are two mutually exclusive accounts of his life, around which there is some debate. The long accepted version paints Pacificus as a pious, model clergyman, who was a staunch defender of his bishop Ratoldus, even going so far as to administer the diocese during Ratoldus' absence from 834-840, until his death in 844.Maureen C Miller, The Formation of a Medieval Church: Ecclesiastical Change in Verona, 950-1150, (New York: Cornell University Press, 1993), 124.
As archdeacon, Pacificus was known for his active role in administering and establishing institutions in the city. He was reportedly the founder of the city's schola sacerdotum at the beginning of the ninth century, which he later made directly subject to the Patriarch of Aquileia. He is described as participating in writing a document from June 813 with Bishop Ratoldus which grants the schola an independent income, and later arguing that the schola was independent from the authority of the bishop. He also is credited with donating the land upon which the schola'''s church was built, which was used as an argument that it remained outside the authority of the bishop.Pacificus, II-I-Ir. 24 June 813. Verona. Archivio Capitolare Veronese, cited in Cristina La Rocca, "A man for all seasons: Pacificus of Verona and the creation of a local Carolingian past," chap. 11 in The Uses of the Past in the Early Middle Ages, ed. Yitzhak Hen and Matthew Innes (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000)Maffei, Scipione, Istoria telologica delle dottrine e delle opinioni corse nei primi cinque secoli della chiesa in proposito della divina grazia del libero arbito e della predestinazione, (Trent, 1742), cited in Cristina La Rocca, "A man for all seasons: Pacificus of Verona and the creation of a local Carolingian past," chap. 11 in The Uses of the Past in the Early Middle Ages, ed. Yitzhak Hen and Matthew Innes (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000).Cristina La Rocca, "A man for all seasons: Pacificus of Verona and the creation of a local Carolingian past," chap. 11 in The Uses of the Past in the Early Middle Ages, ed. Yitzhak Hen and Matthew Innes (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000), 251-252. Pacificus was also supposedly involved with the building or renovating of a number of other churches throughout the area, including the Basilica of St Zeno.Epitaph of Pacificus of Verona, translated to English in Cristina La Rocca, "A man for all seasons: Pacificus of Verona and the creation of a local Carolingian past," chap. 11 in The Uses of the Past in the Early Middle Ages, ed. Yitzhak Hen and Matthew Innes (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000), 254-255. He also was responsible in his will for donating his house for the establishment of a xenodochium, an institute which took care of the poor and sick, and the distributions of alms. This generosity was used by later archdeacons as a model for behavior and duties.Original document is lost, a copy exists as: G. Dionisi, De duobus episcopis Aldone et Notingo. (Verona, 1758), 75-79, cited in Cristina La Rocca, "A man for all seasons: Pacificus of Verona and the creation of a local Carolingian past," chap. 11 in The Uses of the Past in the Early Middle Ages, ed. Yitzhak Hen and Matthew Innes (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000).Maureen C Miller, The Formation of a Medieval Church: Ecclesiastical Change in Verona, 950-1150, (New York: Cornell University Press, 1993), 87-88.Cristina La Rocca, "A man for all seasons: Pacificus of Verona and the creation of a local Carolingian past," chap. 11 in The Uses of the Past in the Early Middle Ages, ed. Yitzhak Hen and Matthew Innes (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000), 252.